Sunni Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Sunni originates from Arabic, meaning 'follower of the Sunnah'. It has evolved from the term 'Sunnah' and denotes a member of the largest branch of Islam. The name has historical significance tied to the early formation of Islamic sects and carries traits of tradition and adherence to religious practices. There is no biblical background associated with it.
The name Sunni is most popular in Texas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Sunni has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Sunni' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 10718th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 15579th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11932nd out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4940th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2403rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2642nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4899th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2860th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Sunni' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sunni"
Pronunciation
/ˈsʌni/
Origin
Arabic
Etymology
The name Sunni derives from the Arabic word 'Sunnah', which refers to the traditional practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. In a broader context, it denotes a follower of Sunni Islam, which is the largest denomination within Islam.
Meaning
Follower of the Sunnah
Language Evolution
Sunnah (Arabic), Suni (transliteration), Sunni (modern usage)
Historical Usage
The term Sunni has been used since the early centuries of Islam, particularly after the Sunni-Shia split in the 7th century. Its usage grew as Sunni Islam became the dominant sect.
Variants & Derivatives
Sunnite, Suni, Sunna
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary contexts, Sunni is often associated with the majority of Muslims worldwide and conveys a sense of tradition and adherence to established religious practices.
Famous People
Al-Ghazali, Ibn Hanbal, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab
📊 Sunni Name Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Sunni Name Visualizations
✨ Sunni Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 134 peak births in 2024
Geographic Spread
Popular across 16 US states, with strongest presence in Texas
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 8 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sunni"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Sunni"
"Sunni" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 10718th of 10718 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 15579th of 16616 | 6 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 11932nd of 23106 | 51 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4940th of 12526 | 120 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2403rd of 19264 | 526 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2642nd of 27321 | 678 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4899th of 35406 | 428 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2860th of 30306 | 714 |
Regional Popularity of "Sunni" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Sunni" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
89.27% 2622nd/2937 |
- |
55.51% 1953rd/3518 |
58.23% 2355th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
39.37% 2045th/5194 |
63.95% 4040th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
66.44% 4859th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
67.67% 2696th/3984 |
81.41% 3653rd/4487 |
33.14% 2261st/6822 |
79.84% 5011th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sunni"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sunni" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.